I have explored new techniques in turning wood, open segmented, which gives a new dimension to the piece of art. You can see these new pieces in the STORE under Artistic Bowls.

I have also been able to create amazing colors and added them to the fluid I use to stabilize spalted wood creating some outstanding patterns with the new amazing colors. These add a great deal of interest to pens, salt and peppermills and the handles of serving items. The new items can be seen and purchased in the STORE on the appropriate pages.

NEW ITEMS have been added. Please check the new pages and the STORE. If you see an article on one of the pages but not in the store PLEASE CONTACT US. Many of the articles have been sold but a similar piece could be made. The grain will be different and the color of the wood is not always predictable.

After several years of perfecting my craft, and with encouragement from family and friends, I am now offering my personal, hand-crafted wood designs for your personal enjoyment or to give as a one of a kind gift.

I obtain my wood from well known suppliers and use only the best finishes. The use of exotic woods frequently adds a great deal of dimension to the product and the design process is based on the size, shape, style, orientation, and type of wood being used.

Visit the website now and select one of my handmade wood products that best suits you. They are not only pieces of art, but functional household items with a natural and unique flair.

Enjoy!

Ed Rohr

In the information about the various pieces of wood art you will read about exotic woods and domestic woods. The exotic woods are generally more colorful than the domestic. Below is a list of the different woods.

EXOTIC WOODS

Domestic Woods

Birdseye maple- Light colored wood with pattern that resembles tiny, swirling eyes disrupting the smooth lines of grain. Grown in the Great Lakes region and the Rocky Mountains.

Cedar- A soft, red fine grained fragrant wood. Grown in many parts of the USA.

Cherry- Light to dark reddish brown in color. A heavy wood. Grown in the eastern USA.

Maple- Creamy to white sapwood. Light reddish brown heartstock. Has a straight grain. Grown in most of the USA.

Walnut- Beautiful dark to light brown color sometimes with a blackish striped figure. The grain is tight. Grown in most of the USA.

White Ash- Color is creamy white with occasional streaks of grey or brown, the heartwood is sometimes light brown with a red tinge. It is straight grained and coarse with a smooth texture. Grown in most of the USA.

Amazakoue- Ghana - Heartwood is yellow brown to dark brown with gray to almost black stripes and its straight grain has an attractive figure. Sometimes contains whitish deposits.

Amboyna- Southeast Asia - A rare, exotic hardwood varies in color from yellow to golden brown to red. Straw colored sapwood. It has a wavy grain and is figured with numerous captivating swirls.

Anegre- West Africa - Heartwood is cream to tan with pinkish tinge. Straight grain but sometimes, wavy producing a mottled figure. It is lustrous and it’s texture is medium to fine.

​Argentine Osage Orange- Central & South America - Heartwood is golden to bright yellow which darkens to medium brown with time. Grain is straight to interlocked, with fine to medium texture.

Argentine Osage Orange- Central & South America - Heartwood is golden to bright yellow which darkens to medium brown with time. Grain is straight to interlocked, with fine to medium texture.

Avodire- Western & Central regions of Africa - Pale yellow or cream, darkening to golden yellow with age. Heartwood and sapwood usually look the same.

Ayan- West Africa - Yellow to orangish brown, tends to darken with age. Frequently exhibits figured grain patterns such as mottle or ripple. It may also be straight. Texture is fine with a high luster. Pores are open but small.

Birch, Silver- Europe & Southwest Asia - Heartwood tends to be a light reddish brown, with nearly white sapwood. It has a uniform appearance except for the occasional piece that has a shallow curl.

Blackwood, African- Africa - Color ranges from dark purple to brown. This is a very rare wood.

Blackwood, Australian- Tasmania & eastern Australia - Color can be highly variable usually medium golden or reddish brown. It is common to see ribbon-like streaks of color. Also, figured with wavy and/or curly grain.

​Blackwood, Burmese- Southeast Asia - The heartwood is dark blackish brown with sections of dark red with black or purple streaks. It is dense and hard.

English Elm- Western Europe- The heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Burls of English Elm contain a great deal of streaking and swirling.

Figured Red Gum- Australia- Colors range from rich reds in the heartwood to creamy white in the sapwood. The “basket weave” figure adds incredible depth, which is caused by the silky smooth grain that is interlocked.

​Goncalo Alves- South America- Heartwood is reddish brown, almost copper colored, and is often streaked with darker brown.

Guayacan- South America- Heartwood is dark greenish brown to almost black and sharply demarcated from the pale yellow or cream colored sapwood. Texture is very fine; grain is strongly interlocked; a slight scent is evident when warmed.

Iroko- Tropical Africa- Heartwood is usually yellow to golden or medium brown, with color darkening over time. The texture is medium to coarse with open pores and an interlocked grain.

Ironwood, Black- Caribbean & Central America- Heartwood can be a range of reds, oranges, violets, and browns. Pale yellowish white sapwood is clearly demarcated from heartwood. Small to very small pores with gum deposits in the heartwood creating a very fine texture with straight and even grain.

Desert Ironwood- Mexico-Color is deep chocolate brown, almost black with yellowish red colors. It is so dense that it will not float. It is so hard that it is used for bearings.

Jatoba- Central & South America, Mexico, & the West Indies-Wood varies in color from light orange-brown to darker reddish brown, which darkens with age. Grain patterns are usually bland & undefined. It has a natural luster. Sometimes darker grayish brown streaks or curly figure are seen. It has a medium to coarse texture with large pores. The grain is wavy & interlocked.

Jobillo- Central America- Heartwood is light reddish brown streaked with sharply contrasting dark reddish to black bands that resemble burn marks. It is a member of the cashew family.

Kauri- Northern Island of New Zealand- Scientifically proven to be around before the Ice Age. Has deep shimmering streaks of iridescence that are called “white bait”. Color is light to medium reddish brown.

Kiaat- South-central Africa- Heartwood varies widely from a lighter golden brown to a darker reddish or purplish brown. Has a medium texture with mid-sized pores. The grain is straight to interlocked. The color tends to get lighter with age.

Kingwood- Brazil- It is light to dark violet brown with lighter & darker stripes of purple. Bright luster, fine texture which develops a patina as it ages.

​Koa- only Hawaii- Color ranges from dark to light brown as well as nice red colors. It can have very curly grain.

Leadwood- South Africa north to Tanzania- Heartwood is almost black with gray to dark brown streaks. Texture is medium.

Lignum Vitae- South America- Heartwood is generally lighter with brown streaks and light green tint. It is fragrant. Grain is interlocked.

Limba, Black or White- Tropical western Africa- Heartwood is light yellowish to golden brown, sometimes with grey to nearly black streaks and veins. The darker figuring is the Black Limba, the nearly plain to plain is White Limba. Tends to darken with age. Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with coarse texture.

​Macadamia Nut- Hawaii- The color is reddish brown. The wood pattern-grain is like Lacewood, fine grained with beautiful rays.

Mahogany, African- West tropical Africa- Heartwood is light pink-brown that darkens to reddish brown when cut. It has a medium to coarse texture & a straight to interlocked grain, which can yield a striped or roe figure.

Mahogany, Honduras- Honduras- Heartwood is reddish brown with a straight grain and fine even texture.

Mango- Hawaii- Colors range from blonde to chocolate brown with parts that might have pink orange as well as yellow colors. The wood can be curly.

Mamani- Hawaii- The heartwood is a nice yellow and the sapwood is white. It has a straight grain & even fine texture.

Marblewood- Brazil- Heartwood is yellow-beige with maroon to black wavy streaks. Sapwood is lighter in color. The grain is straight with a fine even texture making it smooth.

Milo- Hawaii-The color is pink when first cut but turns to medium to dark brown. The wood is strong & durable with natural oils.

Monkey Pod- Central & South America & Hawaii- Color tends to be golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is yellow/white. Sometimes has highly figured curly or wild grain patterns. Texture is medium to coarse, with medium to large open pores & a moderate natural luster.

Mopani- Southern Africa- Heartwood is rich brownish-red. It has a straight grain with a fine even texture.

Padauk- Africa- Heartwood ranges from pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening to reddish/purpleish brown. Has a coarse texture & fairly large open pores. Grain is usually straight, but sometimes can be interlocked.

​Monkey Pod- Central & South America & Hawaii- Color tends to be golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is yellow/white. Sometimes has highly figured curly or wild grain patterns. Texture is medium to coarse, with medium to large open pores & a moderate natural luster.

Mopani- Southern Africa- Heartwood is rich brownish-red. It has a straight grain with a fine even texture.

Padauk- Africa- Heartwood ranges from pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening to reddish/purpleish brown. Has a coarse texture & fairly large open pores. Grain is usually straight, but sometimes can be interlocked.

​Monkey Pod- Central & South America & Hawaii- Color tends to be golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is yellow/white. Sometimes has highly figured curly or wild grain patterns. Texture is medium to coarse, with medium to large open pores & a moderate natural luster.

Mopani- Southern Africa- Heartwood is rich brownish-red. It has a straight grain with a fine even texture.

Padauk- Africa- Heartwood ranges from pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening to reddish/purpleish brown. Has a coarse texture & fairly large open pores. Grain is usually straight, but sometimes can be interlocked.

​Palm, Black- Tropical Asia & Africa- Has a light tan to light brown body background streaked with dark brown and black fibers which are more concentrated to the outside of the tree trunk. Medium to fine texture. Grain is very straight.

Pheasantwood-South/Southeast Asia- Heartwood is a medium to dark brown, to nearly black, with lighter brown contrasting stripes, sometimes with a red or yellow hue. Grain is interlocked or wavy with a coarse texture. Open grained with resinous material.

Pink Ivory- Africa- One of the world’s rarest woods. Heartwood varies from light to dark pink & red with lighter shades of cream. Sapwood is light cream to off-white. Straight to wavy grain with fine texture.

Purpleheart- South America- Color is a dull brown when freshly cut, but quickly turns to a bright purple. Some fiddleback or ropy, mottled curly interlocked grain is present in rare boards. Darkens to brownish purple with exposure to light.

Quina- Mexico, Central & South America- Heartwood varies from lighter golden brown to a darker purplish red or burgundy. Tends to turn more red/purple with age. Grain is interlocked with a medium to fine texture & open medium sized pores.

Redheart- Central America- Pale to dark red that will deepen in color with age. Grain is straight and tight.

​Honduras- Belize (British Honduras)- Heartwood ranges from deep brownish-purple to a light brown. Most common is a brownish-mauve. Sapwood is pale yellow. Has small to medium pores and fine texture.

Rosewood, Yucatan- Central & South America- Heartwood can vary from light brown to deep, russet brown, usually a cinnamon brown. Grain tends to be bland, but darker streaks or swirled grain can be present. Medium texture with large open pores.

Snakewood- South America- The heartwood is a dark red or reddish brown with conspicuous, irregular black speckles or stripes resembling skins of certain snakes.

Sindora Burl- Southeast Asia- This is a very rare and sought after wood and therefore expensive. The heartwood is creamy white to tan. It is a very peculiar curly and highly figured wood. It is very difficult to work with due to the unpredictable grain.

Tamarind, Spalted- Tropical Africa- Heartwood is a deep reddish brown with a purplish hue. The sapwood is pale yellow where the spalting & other discoloration occurs. The grain is wavy & interlocked with a medium uniform texture.

Tamboti- Swaziland, Africa- A rare wood with figure that is mottled and banded. The heartwood is reddish brown to tan, or slightly gray with subtle dark brown streaks that can be wavy.

Teak, White Burl-Southern Asia- Color tends to be golden or medium brown. Grain is straight to wavy. It has a coarse uneven texture.

Thuya- Morocco- Color is generally an orangish or reddish brown. The frequency and size of the knot clusters can vary with the grain being more or less swirled/irregular. Has a medium to fine texture and a good natural luster.

Tigre Caspi- Peru, Central & South America- The heartwood is yellow to golden or orange brown, with irregular brown/black streaks. Texture is medium and uniform with open pores.

Tineo- South America- Has a golden sapwood that darkens to a rich reddish brown after milling. Heartwood is strikingly beautiful with a bluish-black variegated stripe through pinkish-red. The grain is straight with a fine texture.

Wenge- Africa- Heartwood is very dark brown with black streaks. It becomes lighter with age. Has a straight grain & coarse texture. Has very large pores that can present a challenge to fill.

White Limba- Angola & Zaire- Heartwood & sapwood very similar ranging in color from pale cream to yellowish brown or straw color. Sometimes may have nearly black markings that produce an attractive figure. The texture is moderately coarse with a grain that is straight to interlocked.

Xylia- Central America- Has a nice orange color that darkens with time & often is strongly iridescent. Has a fine strainght grain & texture.

Zapote- Mexico & Central America- Color ranges from pink or red to a darker reddish brown to light reddish orange & often displays both. Sapwood is cream in color. Normal to have minor checking &/or gum pockets. Grain is straight to wavy with a medium to fine texture.

Zebrawood- West Africa- Heartwood is light tan to golden yellow with streaks of dark brown to black resembling a zebra’s stripes. The stripes can be chaotic to wavy or somewhat uniform depending on low it is sawn. It has a fairly coarse texture & open pores. Grain is usually wavy or interlocked.